Subject: 
            Re: [evol-psych] Huxleyan dualism of Dawkins and EP
       Date: 
            Thu, 14 Feb 2002 04:43:57 +1100
      From: 
            "Steven D'Aprano" 
        To: 
            [email protected]
 References: 
            1 , 2




Many people have expressed opinions similar to those by Herbert Gintis:

> The kicker, however is the following: "Let us try to teach
> generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish." This is false,
> I would argue, and certainly a non-sequitur. False, because there is
> now ample evidence that human altruism goes well beyond what would be
> predicted by inclusive fitness and reciprocal altruism.

Perhaps this is correct. But surely there is also ample evidence that
humans can be horribly selfish?  Human behaviour isn't EITHER altruist 
OR selfish, but runs through a continuum between these two extremes.

If altruism/selfishness is a behavioural strategy then in principle we 
can shift the position of the ESS towards one or the other extreme 
depending on social considerations.



-- 
Steven D'Aprano